How To Become A Speech-Language Pathology Internship: What It Is and Career Path

What is a speech-language pathology internship and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. HyeKyeung Seung Ph.D.

As a speech-language pathologist, you will work with both adults and children with physical and developmental speech and swallowing impediments in order to improve these abilities. It is your responsibility to assess, diagnose and treat speech and swallow impediments as early as possible to prevent them from deteriorating. Your position is also extended to you working with patients with social communication and cognitive-communication disorders. Because you may not be with all your patients 24/7, you may also have to train their caregivers. As a speech-language pathologist, your work setting may either be in academia or in hospitals and clinics.

To qualify for this post, you need to be patient and compassionate. You need to be able to think critically and pay attention to details, especially to patient behavior. Before venturing into a career as a speech pathologist, you need to obtain an appropriate bachelor's, Masters or Doctoral degree coupled with clinical experience and the passing of a national examination. After which, you would need to obtain a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology so that you may practice as an independent speech-language pathologist.

What general advice would you give to a speech-language pathology internship?

Dr. HyeKyeung Seung Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, California State University, Fullerton

Do not lock yourself into a setting and/or population. As you gain clinical experience and taking CEUs, you will have different views regarding settings (public school, hospital, or private practice clinic as well as different clinic populations). If you want to work in hospital ultimately, you can start working at private practice or public school for CF and a few years. During that time, you can work per diem on weekend or summer to maintain skills in hospital while taking CEUs. By building your skill sets, you put yourself in a better position to look for hospital position.

ScoreSpeech-Language Pathology InternshipUS Average

Salary

4.7

Avg. Salary $59,985

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.5

Growth rate 21%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.35%

Asian 4.46%

Black or African American 4.80%

Hispanic or Latino 9.43%

Unknown 3.78%

White 77.18%

Gender

female 91.31%

male 8.69%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a speech-language pathology internship

Explore speech-language pathology internship education requirements

Most common speech-language pathology internship degrees

Bachelor's

70.1 %

Master's

26.2 %

Associate

2.6 %

Start to develop specific speech-language pathology internship skills

Skills	Percentages
Speech Therapy	16.38%
Language Disorders	12.75%
Patients	11.81%
Autism	7.23%
Dysphagia	7.05%

Complete relevant speech-language pathology internship training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New speech-language pathology interns learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a speech-language pathology internship based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real speech-language pathology internship resumes.

Research speech-language pathology internship duties and responsibilities

Conduct speech, language, and cognitive evaluations for individuals following TBI and CVA.
Prepare foods/liquids for MBS administration.
Conduct evaluations in Spanish, interpret results, and develop IEP team recommendations
Collaborate with clinical supervisor in the administration and interpretation of MBS studies.

Prepare your speech-language pathology internship resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your speech-language pathology internship resume.

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